Sep 4 Dîner en Blanc: An Exquisite Affair

... are the three words that I would use to describe this international culinary and cultural phenomenon.

How It StartedIn June of 1988, François Pasquier organized a picnic with his friends in Bois de Boulogne, a gorgeous public park in the 16ème arrondissement of Paris, and to find each other, he asked all of his friends to wear white.

Twenty-five years later, this refined pique-nique has become so popular that it continues to grow worldwide and in numbers. This year 13,000 attended in Paris, 5,000 in New York City, 5,500 in Montreal and 4,500 in Philadelphia.

Present Day PrimerToday, it is typically in the summer and after a three-phase registration process, thousands of individuals congregate at a secret location (normally a central place within the city) on a specific day (depends on the city), which is literally discovered as you metro or walk to the designated lieu. Invitees are dressed in white from head-to-toe, carry their tables, chairs, centerpieces, and a picnic basket filled with a gourmet meal to be shared à deux or with the entire table (some bring sweet and savory bites to share, which is a kind and smart way to say hi to old friends and meet new acquaintances.) And throughout the evening, there are traditional elements that kick off certain activities such as dinner. At the end of the day, this experience is supposed to be about human collaboration and connection.

Orchestral music filled the air as group and table leaders helped direct people to their spots. Scrambling to set up, attendees rapidly decorated their tables and area (which ranged from simple elegant bouquets and candelabras to contraptions that allowed lights to hang), picked up their pre-ordered wine or champagne (sponsors this year were Reims, France-based Lanson and Modesto, California-based Apothic) and laid out their respective menu du jour.

After everyone was settled in, the mood lightened and attendees partook in the napkin twirl, which officially kicked off le dîner. The three-course dinners that night varied from antipasto skewers and cheese and charcuterie platters as appetizers, colorful sushi to quiches to grilled meats as entrées and macarons, canelés and chocolate sweets as desserts. As cameras were flashing and conversations amongst new and old friends occurred, night fell which meant one thing - sparklers. Everyone lit their own creating a gorgeous and ethereal scene. Dance beats by the skilled DJ Sabeel Chohan took over the earlier soft symphonic tunes and got everyone dancing and posing for more pictures until the end of the night on the steps of the over 200-year-old historic library.

Words can only say so much, so here are some photos (all were taken by me unless otherwise credited) from this unforgettable French-inspired evening.

The wait is finally over. On October 13, Michelin released its first ever Washington, D.C. guide. And what better way to fête this momentous occasion than at a truly elegant party at the gorgeous French Ambassador's residence hosted by the Ambassador of France to the United States, Gérard Araud.

A modern Indian restaurant nestled in Cleveland Park, opened its doors in 2002, and helped redefine Indian cuisine in this city. This two-level eatery, whose name is a melange of India and unique, overhauled its menu, decor and beverage program this year and very much succeeded, thanks to Indique's co-partners Surfy Rahman and Executive Chef K.N. Vinod and Stir Bartending Co.'s beverage consultant, Carlie Steiner.

If there is one meal that I always look forward to every weekend, it's BRUNCH. Why? Because this elaborate dining affair is so much more than just runny eggs (although that is a huge perk ;-)) ... it's about the experience.

Christmas, one of the most celebrated holidays around the world, comes with a rich history of traditions, such as gingerbread houses, nativity scenes, wreaths, caroling, and advent calendars. Having grown up in an Franco-American household, I was fortunate to experience a variety of these, but one of my favorites, and still to this day, is la Bûche de Noël .

La ville lumière. Many years ago, I had the great fortune to discover you, my mother's hometown, and it was an immediate coup de foudre. The smell of warm fresh bread wafting in the air, the narrow and sometimes cobble stone streets filled with people of all cultures joyously walking from one arrondissement to another in search of nooks and crannies that could be claimed as their own.